The Journal of Commerce Online (JoC Online) reports that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 13 is urging West Coast waterfront employers to quickly promote 1,000 part-time workers to full-time status to help relieve the labor shortage that has plagued the Port of Los Angeles-Long Beach. (JoC Online Pub 10/19/04, www.joc.com)
Shippers NewsWire reports that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have stated that Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) is evolving from a purely voluntary program in which industry adopts recommended supply chain practices to one in which participation will be based on minimum security standards. DHS sources also noted that C-TPAT will transition to a "universal requirement for the whole industry." According to the article, some Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are indicating that the new C-TPAT rules could be implemented within 30 days. (Shippers NewsWire dated 10/19/04, www.americanshipper.com)
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report to Congressional requesters that reviews how the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the Departments of Commerce and Agriculture (DOC and USDA), and the State Department pursued China's World Trade Organization (WTO) compliance in 2003.
The Canadian Government has issued a press release announcing that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has reached a tentative collective agreement with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). The press release quotes Minister of National Revenue John McCallum as stating that this is a welcome development and that he is confident that it will bring an end to the strike activities that have been taking place since early September 2004. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/18/04 news, 04101899 1, for BP summary on the strike activities of Canadian public servants.) (CRA press release, dated 10/13/04, available at www.cra-arc.gc.ca/newsroom/releases/2004/oct/1013agreement-e.html )
On October 8, 2004, the House of Representatives passed the conference version of H.R. 1047, the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004. According to Congressional sources, the Senate is expected to consider the conference version of H.R. 1047 in mid-November 2004, when it returns after the election.
The Journal of Commerce Online reports that striking public servants for the third day in a row have delayed truck traffic heading into Canada by as much as 3 hours while negotiators remain optimistic a deal could be reached soon on a new contract. According to the article, picketers are at the Queenston, Ontario-Lewiston, NY bridge and at the Peace Bridge (Buffalo-Fort Erie, Ontario) and are mostly targeting commercial traffic. The nationwide strike began Tuesday. (JoC Online dated 10/13/94 and 10/14/04, www.joc.com.)
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice requesting electronic comments on its Special 301 out-of-cycle reviews of Malaysia, Poland, and Taiwan regarding intellectual property rights (IPR).
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice requesting electronic comments in connection with the U.S.' September 21, 2004 request for World Trade Organization (WTO) consultations concerning certain European Communities (EC) customs practices. The USTR states that comments should be received on or before November 8, 2004 to be assured of timely consideration.
American Shipper reports that the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has decided to hold a public meeting on October 27, 2004 to discuss the various petitions and comments made by non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) requesting tariff exemptions to allow them to have confidential service contracts with shippers. (ShippersNewsWire@americanshipper.com , dated 10/13/04)
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice stating that the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is requesting written public comments by noon on November 1, 2004 regarding the expansion of market access opportunities in government procurement under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA).